Method of assembling panels, elongated rail and rail and cap assembly for assembling panels

Abstract

A method of assembling panels, an elongated rail, and a rail and cap assembly for assembling panels are disclosed. A one-piece elongated rail comprises a bottom, a pair of sides extending from the bottom, a pair of walls located between the sides and perpendicular to the bottom, and a central channel floor extending between the parallel walls and parallel to the bottom. A central channel is formed between the walls and delimited by the central channel floor. Two lateral channels are each formed between one of the sides and one of the walls. The assembly includes the rail and a cap, the cap having a top and an opposite projection configured for insertion in the central channel of the rail. The rail and the cap may be made by extrusion. The method involves adjoining panels to the rail and mounting the cap thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A one-piece elongated rail for assembling panels, comprising:
 a bottom; 
 a pair of sides extending from the bottom; 
 a pair of walls located between the sides and perpendicular to the bottom; 
 a central channel floor extending between the parallel walls and parallel to the bottom; 
 a central channel formed between the walls and delimited by the central channel floor; 
 a pair of lateral channels, each lateral channel being formed between one of the sides and one of the walls; and 
 a pair of lateral channel floors further delimiting the lateral channels, each lateral channel floor being defined between one of the sides and one of the walls; 
 wherein: 
 each wall is separated in two sections at a junction of one of the lateral channel floors with the central channel floor, the central channel being formed between upper sections of the walls; 
 lower sections of the walls define a generally rectangular cavity of the rail with the central channel floor and with the bottom; and 
 generally quadrilateral cavities of the rail are defined by the bottom, the lateral channel floors, the sides and the lower sections of the walls. 
 
     
     
       2. The rail of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral channel floors are angled so that their ends reaching the sides are lower than their opposite ends reaching the walls. 
     
     
       3. The rail of  claim 1 , comprising a screw port located on an internal face of the bottom and within the rectangular cavity. 
     
     
       4. The rail of  claim 1 , wherein the sides extend from the bottom at an angle so that the rail is narrower at its bottom than at its opposite end. 
     
     
       5. The rail of  claim 1 , wherein each side terminates with a rib at its end opposite from the bottom. 
     
     
       6. The rail of  claim 1 , wherein ridges are formed in at least one of the bottom, sides and central channel floors. 
     
     
       7. The rail of  claim 1 , wherein ridges are formed in at least one of the bottom, sides, central channel floors and lateral channel floors. 
     
     
       8. The rail of  claim 1 , wherein the rail is formed by an extrusion process. 
     
     
       9. The rail of  claim 1 , wherein the rail has a constant cross-section along its length. 
     
     
       10. An assembly, comprising:
 the rail of  claim 1 ; and 
 an elongated cap, the cap including:
 a top, a width of the top being at least equal to a width of the rail; and 
 a projection extending underneath the top, the projection being adapted for insertion within the central channel of the rail. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the cap further comprises a pair of hooks located underneath the top, on each side of the projection. 
     
     
       12. A method of assembling panels, comprising:
 providing the assembly of  claim 10 ; 
 installing at least one panel on each side of the rail, a lateral edge of each panel reaching over a corresponding lateral channel of the rail; 
 mounting the cap on the rail by inserting the projection of the cap within the central channel of the rail; and 
 installing at least one screw through the bottom and the central channel floor of the rail and through a bottom face of the projection. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , comprising installing a plurality of panels on at least one side of the rail, the panels overlapping at least in part over the corresponding lateral channel of the rail. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , comprising cutting pluralities of apertures in the rail and in the cap for installation of a corresponding plurality of screws.